Endothelium.

Endothelial cells form a subtle monolayer covering the inner surface of the vascular tree. This unique localization allows them to integrate physical and neurohumoral signals from the blood and surrounding tissues to regulate vascular tone, cellular adhesion, inflammation, smooth muscle phenotype and proliferation as well as thromboresistance. Alterations of endothelial atheroprotective functions pave the way for the development of atherosclerotic lesions and their clinical manifestations. Therefore, better understanding the molecular mechanisms shaping up endothelial biology will help design future therapeutic strategies to prevent the development of vascular diseases. Recent publications in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology have contributed to understanding several of these important processes.